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Standard Eurobarometer 78

Autumn 2012

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

REPORT

Fieldwork: November 2012

This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission,

Directorate-General for Communication.

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.

Standard Eurobarometer 78 / Autumn 2012 – TNS Opinion & Social

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Standard Eurobarometer 78 Autumn 2012

Public opinion in the European Union

Survey conducted by TNS Opinion & Social at the request of the European Commission

Directorate-General Communication

Survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General Communication “Research and Speechwriting” Unit

STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 78 PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EU – AUTUMN 2012

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 3

I. LIFE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION ..................................................................................... 6

1. Personal aspects ............................................................................................................. 6

1.1. The current personal situation of Europeans ................................................................ 6

1.2. Evaluation of the professional and financial situation ................................................. 10

1.3. The concerns of Europeans ......................................................................................... 15

2. Economic aspects .......................................................................................................... 19

2.1. Evaluation of the current economic situation ............................................................. 19

2.1.1. The national, European and world situations ........................................................... 19

2.1.2. The employment situation ........................................................................................ 22

2.2. Expectations for the next twelve months .................................................................... 24

2.2.1. The national, European and world situations ........................................................... 24

2.2.2. The employment situation ........................................................................................ 26

2.3. The main concerns at national level ............................................................................ 27

2.4. The main concerns at European level .......................................................................... 31

3. Political aspects ............................................................................................................ 35

3.1. Interest in politics ....................................................................................................... 35

3.2. Trust in institutions .................................................................................................... 37

3.3. The direction in which things are going ....................................................................... 39

II. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS CITIZENS .................................................................. 44

1. Attachment to the European Union .............................................................................. 44

1.1. What does the European Union represent? ................................................................ 44

1.2. Support for EU membership and the perceived benefits of membership (candidate

countries) .................................................................................................................. 47

1.3. How to face the future? .............................................................................................. 49

2. Democracy in the EU ..................................................................................................... 52

2.1. The perception of how national democracies and European democracy work ............ 52

2.2. Are personal, national and European interests properly taken into account by the

European Union? ....................................................................................................... 57


2

3. Europeans and globalisation ......................................................................................... 60

3.1. Globalisation: an opportunity for economic growth? .................................................. 60

3.2. The EU and the effects of globalisation ....................................................................... 62

4. The European institutions ............................................................................................. 68

4.1. Awareness of European institutions and the trust they inspire ................................... 68

4.2. Trust in the European Union ....................................................................................... 75

4.3. The image of the European Union ............................................................................... 77

5. Knowledge of the European Union ................................................................................ 82

5.1. Knowledge of how the European Union works ........................................................... 82

5.2. Objective Knowledge of the European Union .............................................................. 83

III. THE EUROPEAN UNION NOW AND IN THE FUTURE .................................................... 85

1. SUPPORT FOR EUROPEAN POLICIES .............................................................................. 85

2. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE BUILDING OF EUROPE ............................................................... 90

2.1. The perceived objectives of the building of Europe ..................................................... 90

2.2. Desirable objectives for the building of Europe ........................................................... 91

3. The future of the European Union ................................................................................. 92

3.1. Opinions on a federation of nation states ................................................................... 92

3.2. The future of the European Union .............................................................................. 96

ANNEXES

Technical specifications Questionnaire


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INTRODUCTION

This Standard Eurobarometer survey was carried out between 3 and 18 November 2012 in 34 countries and territories1: the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU), the six candidate countries (Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro and Serbia), and the Turkish Cypriot Community in the part of the country not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

The previous Standard Eurobarometer survey (EB77) in spring 2012 had been characterised by the relative stability of most of the indicators concerning perceptions of the economic situation. It had also revealed a slight deterioration in the indicators measuring support for the European Union and its institutions; however, these evolutions should be analysed in the light of the significant declines recorded in the autumn 2011 Standard Eurobarometer (EB76).

Just after the launch of this autumn 2012 survey, the European Commission published its autumn 2012 economic forecasts2: these predicted low annual GDP growth of 0.4% for the EU in 2013, with growth of 0.1% in the euro area, followed by a modest recovery in 2014, with GDP growth of around 1.6% in the EU and 1.4% in the euro area.

Several major events for the EU and its institutions took place during the weeks and months leading up to the survey. Key measures were adopted to promote a more integrated European Union: the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) was introduced on 27 September, while the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, signed on 2 March 2012, was due to enter into force on 1 January 2013. Another important event was the award of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union on 12 October.

National elections were held in Lithuania and the Netherlands. During the survey, the first round of the Presidential elections was held in Slovenia.

Outside Europe, Barack Obama was elected for a second term as President of the United States on 6 November.

The full report of the Eurobarometer survey consists of several volumes. This first volume presents the state of public opinion in the European Union. Four further volumes analyse the opinions of Europeans on other themes: the Europe 2020 strategy; the financial and economic crisis; European citizenship; and media habits in the European Union. This volume covers public opinion in the European Union.

1 Please consult the technical specifications for the exact dates of the fieldwork in each country. 2 http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/eu/forecasts/2012_autumn_forecast_en.htm


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This volume devoted to the state of public opinion in the European Union is divided into three parts. In the first part, we examine personal, social, economic and political aspects of life in the European Union as perceived by its citizens. We examine the financial and personal situation of citizens; their views on the economic situation at national, European and global levels; their main concerns; and their expectations for the future. This part of the report also explores their interest in politics and their views on the direction in which things are going in their country and in the European Union, and analyses the extent to which citizens trust their national institutions and the UN.

The second part of the report presents the main indicators measuring the image of the European Union and its institutions and their respective trust ratings. First, it examines the extent to which Europeans feel attached to the European Union. It then analyses their views on the way democracy works and the extent to which their personal and national interests are taken into account by the European Union. This part of the report also explores the attitudes of Europeans to globalisation. The report then considers the extent to which Europeans are familiar with the European institutions and how far they trust them, before turning to their knowledge of the EU.

The third part of the report begins by analysing how far Europeans support various European policies, before examining their views on the main objectives of European integration, not only as they perceive them, but also as they would wish them to be. Finally, we consider opinions about the European Union’s future.

The general analysis and the socio-demographic analyses are based on the results at the level of the average of the 27 Member States. This average is weighted so that it reflects the population of each Member State. The averages for previous years represent the results obtained in all the Member States of the European Union, as it was composed at the time the survey was conducted.

32 731 people from different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face in their homes at the request of the European Commission. The methodology used is that of the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of the Directorate-General Communication (“Research and Speechwriting” Unit)3. A technical note on the interviewing methods of the institutes of the TNS Opinion & Social network is attached to this report. This note also specifies the confidence intervals4.

3 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm 4 The results tables are annexed. It should be noted that the total of the percentages indicated in the tables in this report may exceed 100% when the respondent was able to choose several answers to the same question.


5

The abbreviations used in this report correspond to:

ABBREVIATIONS BE Belgium LV Latvia CZ Czech Republic LU Luxembourg BG Bulgaria HU Hungary DK Denmark MT Malta DE Germany NL The Netherlands EE Estonia AT Austria EL Greece PL Poland ES Spain PT Portugal FR France RO Romania IE Ireland SI Slovenia IT Italy SK Slovakia CY Republic of Cyprus*** FI Finland LT Lithuania SE Sweden UK United Kingdom CY(tcc) Turkish Cypriot Community

HR Croatia EU27 European Union – weighted average for the 27 Member States

TR Turkey

MK Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia **** EU15 BE, IT, FR, DE, LU, NL, DK, UK, IE, PT, ES, EL, AT, SE, FI*

IS Iceland NMS12 BG, CZ, EE, CY, LT, LV, MT, HU, PL, RO, SI, SK**

ME Montenegro Euro area BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK

RS Serbia Non-euro area

BG, CZ, DK, LV, LT, HU, PL, RO, SE, UK

* EU15 refers to the 15 European Union Member States before the enlargements of 2004 and 2007

** The NMS12 countries are the 12 “new Member States” that joined the European Union at the time of the 2004 and 2007 enlargements

*** Cyprus as a whole is one of the 27 European Union Member States. However, the “acquis communautaire” has been suspended in the part of the country which is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews carried out in the part of the country controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the “CY” category and in the EU27 average. The interviews carried out in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the “CY(tcc)” (tcc: Turkish Cypriot Community) category

**** Provisional abbreviation which in no way prejudges the definitive name of this country, which will be agreed once the current negotiations at the United Nations have been completed

* * * * *

We wish to thank all the people interviewed throughout Europe

who took the time to participate in this survey.

Without their active participation, this survey would not have been possible.

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10

1.2. Evaluation of the professional and financial situation

– The expectations of Europeans have deteriorated slightly as regards the financial situation of their household, while expectations for the job situation

have stabilised –

The household financial situation

More than six out of ten Europeans say that the financial situation of their household is “good” (63%, versus 35% for whom it is “bad”)7. This view has gained one percentage point since the spring 2012 Standard Eurobarometer survey (EB77), though it has not returned to the level recorded in Standard Eurobarometer EB75 of spring 2011 (65%).

Prospects for the household economic situation over the coming twelve months, which had improved in spring 2012, have worsened a little: a majority of respondents continue to believe that the situation will stay the same (56%), but this majority has decreased (-2) while the proportion who think that the next twelve months will be “worse” has increased slightly (23%, +2). The proportion of optimists is unchanged (18%) and pessimists still outnumber optimists8.

A country-by-country analysis shows that:

- A majority of respondents in 20 Member States (versus 19 in spring 2012) are positive about their household financial situation. The exceptions are Greece (77% describe it as “bad”), Hungary (70%), Portugal (67%), Bulgaria (66%), Romania (58%) and Italy (50%). A narrow majority of respondents in Ireland (51%, +4) are now positive, while in Cyprus opinion is evenly divided (50%, +2, versus 50%, -1). There have been no significant changes on this indicator.

- The optimism index is now negative in 16 Member States (compared with 14 in spring 2012). However, there are sharp falls in Cyprus (-28 to -49), Portugal (-21 to -53), Slovakia (-14 to -20), Belgium (-14 to -9) and France (-13, though the index remains just positive, +3).

- Exceptionally, the optimism index for the household financial situation is positive and has increased in Lithuania (+2 to 9) and the United Kingdom (+3 to 11).

In the candidate countries, a majority of respondents in Iceland and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be positive about both their current household financial situation and the future outlook.

7 QA3a How would you judge the current situation in each of the following? 8 QA4a What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...?

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13

There are significant socio-demographic divisions on all these indicators. For example, the most advantaged respondents and those who almost never have difficulties paying their bills are more likely than average to be satisfied. Managers are also more satisfied than white-collar workers, who in turn are more satisfied than manual workers. The same trends are perceptible as regards short-term expectations, though the differences are narrower. The factor which appears to have most influence on these satisfaction indicators is the difficulty respondents have in paying their bills: Europeans who often struggle to pay their bills are far less likely than average to be satisfied and far more likely than average to be pessimistic in their projections for the future.

S

STANDARD EUROOBAROMETER 778 PUBLIC OPINIOON IN THE EU –– AUTUMN 20122

14

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16

- The country’s economic situation is the main personal concern of respondents in Greece (36%), but with a lower score than in spring 2012 (-4). The proportion of respondents mentioning this issue has fallen sharply in Cyprus (15%, -13), but this trend has been offset by a strong increase in the proportion of respondents mentioning the financial situation of the household (42%, +16), which is now the first concern.

- As in spring 2012, respondents in the euro area are more likely to be concerned about their country’s economic situation than about the situation of their household (20% and 13% respectively), whereas the situation is the opposite outside the euro area (17% and 20% respectively).

- Taxation continues to be mentioned very frequently in Italy (39%, +2), as it now also is in Greece (30%, +14) and Lithuania (32%, +9) where this subject has gained significant ground. It has also gained ground since spring 2012 in France (17%, +6).

- Health and social security tops the list of concerns in Sweden (39%, =) and the Netherlands (32%, =), and is now also the first item mentioned in Finland where it has gained significant ground (39%, +9).

- Respondents in Sweden are also more likely than average to mention the education system (26%), and environmental, climate and energy issues (25%).

In the candidate countries, rising prices/inflation are the main personal concern in Croatia (59%), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (49%), Serbia (48%), Montenegro (43%) and Iceland (42%). This issue is mentioned less often in Turkey (30%), where it has been overtaken by the country’s economic situation (41%).

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21

The European economic situation

- The belief that the European economic situation is “bad” is dominant in all Member States, except, as in spring 2012, in Lithuania (47% think that it is “good”, -1, versus 43% for “bad”, +1), and now in Bulgaria, where perceptions have improved (43%, +5 versus 41%, -7).

- Although still overwhelmingly negative, somewhat fewer respondents now say the situation of the economy in the European Union is “bad” in Spain (83%, -7) and Ireland (85%, -7). In Ireland, it is the most emphatic position that has lost ground: 34% say that the situation is “very bad” (-20) while an absolute majority of respondents describe it as “rather bad” (51%, +13).

- In the United Kingdom too, fewer respondents are now negative, though this is still clearly the majority view (80%, -5). The proportion who see the situation as “very bad” has fallen most steeply (40%, -10).

- The gloomiest assessments come in Italy (89% of respondents say that the EU’s economic situation is “bad”), Portugal (88%) and Sweden (87%). These countries have now been joined by Belgium, where opinions have hardened sharply (86%, +12, including 27% for “very bad”, +13).

- In Finland, where respondents are more negative than in spring 2012 about the national economic situation, they are also now more likely to describe the European economy as “bad” (77%, +8).

The world economic situation

- The same trends are found as for the situation of the economy in the European Union.

- There are only two countries in which a majority of respondents are not negative about the global economic situation: Lithuania, where opinions are evenly divided, despite a fall in “good” answers (43%, -3), and Bulgaria, where positive opinions have gained ground (42%, +6, versus 37%, -5).

- Positive opinions have lost most ground in Belgium (16%, -8) and Finland (32%, -7), but have gained a number of percentage points in Ireland (13%, +6) and Spain (13%, +6).

In the candidate countries:

- An increasing majority of respondents are negative about the national economic situation in Turkey (58%, +6), following a significant decline in spring 2012 (-10 at that time).

- A majority of respondents are also pessimistic about the European economy, except in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (54% think that the situation is “good”, unchanged, versus 36%, -3).

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28

As was the case in spring 2012, there are differences between the euro area and non-euro area countries. The first three concerns are the same and are ranked in the same order: unemployment, the economic situation and rising prices. However, euro area respondents then mentioned government debt (19%), while respondents outside the euro area are more concerned about health and social security (14%) and crime (14%, compared with only 12% for government debt).

- Unemployment is the main concern in 18 Member States, led by Spain (78%), Cyprus (73%), Ireland (65%), Poland (65%) and Sweden (65%). This concern has gained significant ground since the spring 2012 survey in Belgium (44%, +18), where it is now the first concern, the Netherlands (32%, +12) and Denmark (61%, +10). In contrast, mentions have declined sharply in Estonia (30%, -17) and Portugal (57%, -11).

- The economic situation is the main national concern in four Member States: Slovenia (60%), the Netherlands (55%), Romania (48%) and the Czech Republic (37%). This was also the case in Greece in spring 2012, but mentions have fallen significantly (55%, -11), while taxation is far now more frequently cited (17%, +8). Fewer respondents also mention the economic situation in Ireland (43%, -12), but it has gained ground in Denmark (58%, +10), Luxembourg (31%, +16) and Sweden (31%, +10), three countries which were previously less affected by increasing concerns about the national economic situation. This issue has also taken on more importance in Belgium (40%, +13).

- Rising prices are the primary national concern in four Member States: Estonia (58%), Lithuania (43%), Malta (39%) and Austria (36%). This issue has also gained significant ground in Bulgaria (35%, +7) and Latvia (23%, +6).

- Government debt remains the main concern in Germany (34%), but is mentioned significantly less often than in spring 2012 in the Netherlands (14%, -14) and France (16%, -8).

Other points of note:

- Concerns about health and social security have increased significantly in the Netherlands (46%, +16) and in Finland (40%, +7).

- Respondents in the United Kingdom are particularly concerned about crime (21%) and immigration (24%).

- Taxation (28%) is at the forefront of concerns in Italy. - Respondents in Sweden pay particular attention to the education system (21%)

and environmental, climate and energy issues (22%). - Concerns about housing have increased strongly in Portugal (12%, +9).

Respondents in Luxembourg are still more likely than average to be concerned about this subject, but less so than in spring 2012 (23%, -13).

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30

In the candidate countries:

- Here again, respondents are primarily concerned about either unemployment (Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia) or the economic situation (Iceland and Montenegro). Turkey is the exception, as there is much more concern about terrorism (69%, the first concern, with a 7-point increase since spring 2012).

- Concerns about crime have fallen sharply in Montenegro (28%, -12) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (22%, -8), while they are more or less unchanged in Croatia (28%, -1), though this item is still mentioned more than average. However, mentions of crime have increased in Serbia (37%, +8).

- In Iceland, concerns about health and social security have increased (33%, +14).

A socio-demographic analysis reveals no striking differences since all categories have strong concerns about unemployment and the economic situation. However, self-employed people are more likely to be concerned about taxation (16%), while managers are more interested in government debt (23%) and the education system (12%). These two subjects are comparatively less mentioned by white-collar and manual workers and unemployed people, who are more likely to be concerned about rising prices (23%, 27% and 24% respectively).

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Points of note:

- The economic situation is seen as the most important problem facing the European Union in almost all the Member States, except for Germany and Austria, where respondents first mentioned the state of Member States’ public finances (55% and 57% respectively), and Luxembourg where unemployment tops the list of issues facing the EU (50%).

- Respondents are less likely than in spring 2012 to mention the economic situation, especially in Greece (54%, -12) and Cyprus (59%, -9). Belgium is an exception, with a significant increase (56%, +12).

- After rising spectacularly in several Member States in spring 2012, concerns about unemployment have yet again risen significantly in Belgium (39%, +9), the Czech Republic (30%, +9), Denmark (54%, +8), France (36%, +8), Slovenia (39%, +8), Slovakia (30%, +9) and Finland (27%, +8). It has lost ground in Portugal (43%, -11), but is still above the European average.

- Concerns about the state of Member States’ public finances have fallen in Ireland (26%, -15) and France (29%, -10) where they had increased strongly in spring 2012 (with increases of +7 and +8 respectively compared with autumn 2011).

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3. POLITICAL ASPECTS

3.1. Interest in politics

The index of interest in politics, constructed on the basis of questions on the respondent’s interest in local, national and European politics, has undergone very few changes since the spring 2012 Standard Eurobarometer survey (EB77)15:

- The majority of Europeans continue to be “moderately” interested in politics (45%, +1 percentage point since spring 2012).

- Those who follow politics very closely (“strong” interest) represent 16% of respondents (=).

- Just under a quarter of Europeans are “slightly” interested in politics (22%, -1) and 17% are “not at all interested” (=).

- In total, more than six out of ten Europeans are interested, either strongly or moderately, in politics (61%).

This index of interest in politics changed very little since the spring 2010 Eurobarometer survey (EB73), when it was measured for the first time. At that time, 14% of Europeans had a “strong” interest in politics, 43% were “moderately” interested, 24% were “slightly” interested and 19% were “not at all interested”. Europeans continue to be most interested in national political matters (76%), just ahead of local political matters (74%). A smaller majority of respondents are also interested in European political matters (63%)16.

More specifically, respondents in Greece continue to be particularly interested in politics (40% have a “strong” index), although this proportion has fallen by five percentage points since spring 2012, as are those in the Netherlands (26%, -5), Germany (23%, +3), Sweden (22%, +1), Cyprus (22%, -1) and Denmark (21%, -2).

15 A score was attributed to each answer: “Never” = 0; “Occasionally” = 1; “Often”= 2. An index was then constructed by adding together the scores for the three dimensions (local, national and European). Each group corresponds to a different index level: “not at all interested in politics” = 0; “slightly” = 1 to 2; “moderately” = 3 to 4; “strongly” = 5 to 6. 16 QA2. When you get together with friends or relatives, would you say that you discuss frequently, occasionally or never about …? National political matters/European political matters/Local political matters


36

A socio-demographic analysis reveals a number of differences between categories. Interest in politics:

- Increases with age: only 8% of 15-24 year-olds have a “strong” interest in politics, compared with 20% of those aged 55 or over. However, when we aggregate the “strong” and “moderate” categories, the 40-54 age group has the highest proportion of people interested in politics (65%, versus 64% among those aged 55 or over and 45% among those aged 15 to 24).

- Is far stronger among the respondents who studied the longest (73% of those who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond have a strong or moderate interest in politics compared with 49% of those who left school before the age of 16).

- There are also differences according to the respondent’s occupational category: managers (78%) are more likely than white-collar workers (66%) and manual workers (57%) to be interested in politics.

STANDA

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38

A clear majority of respondents in all the Member States still tend not to trust political parties: 80%, an increase of two percentage points. Distrust has increased sharply in Luxembourg (70%, +15), France (83%, +11), after falling in spring 2012 in the wake of the Presidential election, but also in Belgium (76%, +9), where all the indicators measuring trust and future expectations have deteriorated.

Trust in regional and local public authorities is stable, but remains the minority position (43%, =, versus 50%, -1). A majority of respondents in 13 Member States trust these authorities, led by Denmark (70%), Austria (69%), Luxembourg (68%) and Finland (67%). Trust has increased significantly in Portugal (48%, +14) and Hungary (55%, +11), but has fallen in France (53%,-9) and Cyprus (38%, -9).

After trending downwards (-6 percentage points between the spring 2011 Eurobarometer survey and the spring 2012 survey), trust in the United Nations has increased. As a result a very narrow majority of Europeans now trust this institution (44%, +2, versus 42% who tend not to trust it, -3). Although the majority is very narrow at European level, it nevertheless exists in 20 Member States. The exceptions are Greece (77% distrust the UN), Cyprus (69%), Spain (59%), Slovenia (58%) and Italy (48%), though distrust has fallen by nine percentage points in Italy. Opinions are evenly divided in the United Kingdom (at 44%) and Germany (41%). Respondents in Finland (72%), Denmark (71%) and Sweden (71%) are the most likely to trust the United Nations.

Trust has increased in Portugal (46%, +10) where it now again commands a narrow majority (versus 43%).

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Opinions on the direction taken nationally are similar in the euro area (56% replied “wrong direction”) and the non-euro area countries (57%). However, euro area respondents are slightly more critical than non-euro area respondents of the direction taken by the European Union (54% versus 49%).

Majorities in only two Member States (compared with seven in spring 2012) now think that things are going in the right direction nationally, though these majorities have fallen in both cases: Denmark (46%, -5, versus 42%, +5) and Austria (39%, -8, versus 30%, +4). Opinions are evenly divided in Sweden, where perceptions have deteriorated sharply (44%, -12, versus 44%, +10).

In several Member States negative opinions of the direction in which things are going nationally have hardened since the spring 2012 Eurobarometer survey. Often these are the countries which had seen significant improvements at that time: Belgium (65% think that things are going in the wrong direction, +26 percentage points), France (61%, +24), Romania (68%, +16), Cyprus (80%, +15), Luxembourg (44%, +15), Slovakia (59%, +15) and Slovenia (67%, +14).

The belief that things are going in the right direction at national level is therefore declining not only in the countries which were predominantly critical in the past but also in countries which previously seemed to be relatively immune.

Note that there has been a significant improvement in Ireland although opinions remain predominantly negative (28% answered “right direction”, +8, versus 47%, +1).

In three Member States majorities continue to believe that things are going in the right direction in the European Union (compared with five in spring 2012): Bulgaria (49% versus 11%), Lithuania (40% versus 20%) and Latvia (35% versus 23%). Opinions are evenly divided in Estonia (at 29%) as a result of a decrease in positive opinions (-7). However, opinions in Romania have hardened and are now predominantly negative (30%, -10, versus 34%).

The impression that things are going in the right direction in the European Union has also lost ground in Belgium (15%, -9) and Cyprus (6%, -10). However, it has gained support in Ireland (30%, +13), while remaining the minority position.

STANDA

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41


42

In the candidate countries: - A majority of respondents are negative about the direction in which things are

going in their country, except in Iceland, where positive opinions have gained significant ground (57%, +9). Opinions have also improved in Montenegro (35%, +12). However, after an improvement in spring 2012, perceptions of the direction taken nationally have deteriorated sharply in Turkey (37%, -12).

- Opinions of the direction taken in the European Union are now predominantly positive in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (43% versus 19%) and Montenegro (40% versus 25%), but are mainly negative in Turkey (27% versus 46%), Iceland (31% versus 46%), Croatia (32% versus 44%) and Serbia (29% versus 32%).

The results of the socio-demographic analysis mirror the trends noted for the economic situation at national and European levels19:

- The respondent’s age has little influence on opinions on the direction taken nationally. However, education creates more pronounced differences: only 18% of those who left school before the age of 16 think that things are going in the right direction in their country, compared with 29% of Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond. Managers are also more positive (36%) than white-collar workers (23%), manual workers (22%) and unemployed people (14%). Europeans who position themselves at the bottom of the social scale are also more critical of the direction taken by their country (14%) than those who place themselves at the top (34%).

- In the case of the European Union, the generational divide is more perceptible: while 28% of those in the 15-24 age group believe that things are going in the right direction, only 19% of Europeans aged 55 or over agree. The most educated respondents remain more positive (27%) than those who left school before the age of 16 (14%). Occupation makes less difference at European than at national level (28% of managers think that things are going in the right direction compared with 24% of white-collar and 21% of manual workers), although unemployed people remain more critical (17%). Subjective social classification remains a significant factor: 29% of the Europeans who position themselves at the top of the social scale consider that things are going in the right direction in the European Union, compared with only 17% of those who place themselves at the bottom.

19 Cf. QA3 2.1.1. The national, European and world situations, page 20.

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44

II. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS CITIZENS

1. ATTACHMENT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

1.1. What does the European Union represent?

The ranking of the representations associated with the European Union has not changed since the previous survey conducted in spring 2012. With a score of 42% (+1 percentage point) “the freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU” stands in first place, ahead of “the euro” (35%, -2), “waste of money” (27%, unchanged), “peace” (26%, +2) and “bureaucracy” (23%, unchanged)20. Evolutions are only minor, and none exceeds two percentage points (-2 for the euro; +2 for peace and unemployment).

The euro is far more likely to be seen as a symbol of the EU in the EU15 countries (39%) and within the euro area (44%) than in the NMS12 countries (22%) and countries outside the euro area (18%). There are fewer differences as regards freedom of movement within the European area: although this item is mentioned more frequently in the NMS12 countries than in the EU15 (49% versus 40%), it was mentioned equally within and outside the euro area (42%). Waste of money is mentioned more often in the EU15 countries (30%) and euro area countries (29%) than in the NMS12 (15%) and outside the euro area (22%).

A national analysis reveals that the most frequently mentioned representation, irrespective of the country, is either freedom of movement within the European area or the euro, except in the United Kingdom where, as in spring 2012, waste of money is the first item mentioned (31% versus 27% and 16% respectively).

As was the case in previous surveys, freedom of movement within the European Union was mentioned most frequently in the Nordic countries (65% in Sweden, 59% in Finland and 55% in Denmark) and the Baltic States (67% in Estonia, 60% in Lithuania and 59% in Latvia), as well as in Luxembourg (59%) and Germany (56%). The highest scores for the euro were recorded in Austria (67%), Finland (57%), Belgium (55%), the Netherlands (54%) and Slovakia (53%). Respondents in Austria (54%), Germany (46%) and Sweden (42%) continue to be most likely to mention waste of money, while respondents in Sweden (44%), Finland (44%) and Austria (42%) are far more likely than the European average (23%) to mention bureaucracy.

The most striking changes for this indicator are recorded in Greece: mentions of the euro (49%) and freedom of movement (37%) have fallen by eight and two percentage points respectively, while unemployment has seen a 10-point rise to 45%. This item now stands in second place in the list of representations associated with the European Union in this country.

20 QA13. What does the EU mean to you personally? (Multiple answers possible)

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47

1.2. Support for EU membership and the perceived benefits of membership

(candidate countries)

This Standard Eurobarometer survey measured support within the candidate countries for European membership21 and perceptions of the expected benefits of membership22. The same questions were asked in the previous survey in spring 2012 (EB77), which will therefore be used for comparison.

After increasing between autumn 2011 and spring 2012, doubtless as a result of the “yes” vote in the referendum on 22 January 2012 on Croatia’s accession to the EU, support for European membership has declined in this country23. Respondents in Croatia are now divided into three more or less equal groups: 31% (-7 percentage points since spring 2012) consider that joining the European Union would be a good thing for their country, whereas 32% (+6) take the opposite view and 33% (-1) think that it would be “neither good nor bad”. Whereas in spring 2012, for the first time, more people supported than opposed Croatia’s membership of the EU, the ratio has been reversed in this survey. This change may be due to a declining perception of the benefits of European membership: 46% of respondents in Croatia (-5) consider that their country would benefit from joining the EU, while 44% (+5) think that it would not. Between spring and autumn 2012, the ratio of opinions on the benefits of membership has therefore narrowed significantly.

A large majority of respondents in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to favour European membership, despite an erosion in support: 57% of respondents in this country are positive about EU membership, but this proportion has fallen by five percentage points since spring 2012 and by eight percentage points since spring 2011. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) are convinced of the benefits of European membership, a decline of four percentage points since spring 2012 (EB77) and eight percentage points since spring 2011 (EB75).

After a sharp fall in the previous survey, support for European membership has recovered in Montenegro: 50% of respondents (+3 percentage points) are in favour of European membership, while 13% (-1) are opposed, 29% (-2) say that it would be “neither good nor bad” and 8% (unchanged) expressed no opinion. The view that European membership would be a benefit has gained ground, and is held by a large majority of respondents (59%, +4).

At the time of the spring 2012 Standard Eurobarometer survey, the ratio of opinions on European membership had narrowed considerably in Turkey due to a significant increase in negative opinions. Overall views are relatively stable in this new survey in autumn 2012.

21 QA8. Generally speaking, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY)’s membership of the EU would be a good thing, a bad thing, neither good nor bad? 22 QA9. Taking everything into consideration, would you say that (OUR COUNTRY) would benefit or not from being a member of the EU? 23 66.27% of Croats voted yes to EU membership in the referendum on 22 January 2012, which was marked by a low turnout (43.5%).


48

More than a third of respondents in Turkey (36%, -1 percentage point) are in favour of EU membership, while 33% (-2) are against it, 19% (+3) think that it would be “neither good nor bad” and 12% (unchanged) expressed no opinion. However, there are more marked evolutions in perceptions of the benefits of membership: 40% (-4) think that Turkey would benefit from EU membership, while 44% (+7) think otherwise and 16% (-3) expressed no opinion.

Opposition to EU membership has fallen slightly in Iceland, but is still the majority position: 44% (-2 percentage points) of respondents believe that European membership would be “a bad thing”, whereas 26% (+5) think that it would be “a good thing”. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%, -7) say that European membership would be “neither good nor bad” and 7% (+4) expressed no opinion. A majority of respondents continue to believe that Iceland would not benefit from European membership (57%), but this view has lost seven percentage points since spring 2012.

Finally, support for European membership in Serbia, which was measured for the first time in the spring 2012 Standard Eurobarometer survey, has fallen: 35% of respondents (-5 percentage points) are positive about EU membership, while 34% (+6) say it would be neither good nor bad and 23% (-1) oppose membership. The decline in positive opinions has been matched by an identical increase in the number of “neither good nor bad” answers. The trend towards less pro-European attitudes in Serbia is even more striking in the case of the perceived benefits of membership: 40% of respondents (-9) think that their country would benefit from joining the EU while 35% (+4) take the opposite view and a significant proportion are unable to reply (25%, +5).

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2. DEMOCRACY IN THE EU

– Satisfaction with the way that democracy works, nationally and in the European Union, continues to decline -

2.1. The perception of how national democracies and European democracy

work

The way national democracy works

The downward trend in positive judgements of the way that national democracies work continues in this survey. 49% of Europeans (-2 percentage points since spring 2012) now say that they are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country while 49% (+2) are not satisfied, 2% (no change) expressing no opinion25. For the first time since autumn 2004, less than half of Europeans express satisfaction with their country's democratic system. The hitherto favourable ratio of opinions is now evenly balanced.

As was the case in previous surveys, there is a persistent gap between the EU15 countries which are predominantly satisfied with the way that national democracy works (53% compared with 46%) and NMS12 countries where dissatisfaction is widespread (64% "not satisfied" answers in total, compared with 33%). Satisfaction fell by two percentage points within the EU15 countries; dissatisfaction rose two percentage points within NMS12 countries.

25 QA19a. On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in (our country)?

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The way European democracy works

44% of Europeans (unchanged from spring 2012) express satisfaction with the way democracy works in the EU, while 45% (+1 percentage point) say they are not satisfied, and 11% (-1) express no opinion26.

Although the changes are slight in comparison to the previous survey, the ratio of opinions nevertheless has reversed on this indicator for the first time in the history of the Eurobarometer. Although it has weakened since the autumn 2011 Standard Eurobarometer (EB76) survey, there is nevertheless an underlying trend towards worsening judgements of the way European democracy works. Over a three-year period - taking the autumn 2009 survey (EB72) as a benchmark - positive judgements have fallen 10 points, while over the same time negative opinions have gained 13 points. Furthermore, in autumn 2009, Europeans felt that democracy worked better in the EU than in their own country. This is no longer the case today.

The way that European democracy works is considered satisfactory by an absolute majority of respondents within NMS12 countries (54% "total satisfied", versus 33%) and by a relative majority of respondents in countries outside the euro area (48% versus 39%). In contrast, a relative majority of respondents in the EU15 countries (48% "total not satisfied", compared with 42%) and euro area countries (48% compared with 43%) are not satisfied with how democracy works within the EU. The opinion ratios remain broadly unchanged since the previous survey in spring 2012 in these four groups of countries.

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R 78

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58

64% (+1 percentage point) of Europeans believe that "their voice does not count in the European Union", while 31% (unchanged) believe the opposite is true28.

This view is shared in similar proportions in the EU15 and NMS12 countries, whether or not they are members of the euro area.

In this survey, the opinion ratio has reversed to positive effect in Malta (46% versus 43% now; 41% versus 45% in spring 2012), which is now, along with Denmark (55% compared with 41%), one of the only two countries where a majority of citizens feel that their voice counts in the EU. However, the ratio has reversed in a negative manner in the Netherlands (45% versus 51% now; 50% versus 46% in the Eurobarometer EB77 survey), thus confirming the sharp deterioration in judgements within this country about how well democracy works in Europe.

In this survey, the belief that one's voice counts in the EU has gained most ground in Bulgaria (+10 percentage points), Hungary (+8), and Austria and Ireland (both +6). It has declined most in France (-6), and Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Greece (all -5).

Since the spring 2012 survey, the ratio of opinions regarding whether the EU takes account of national interests has deteriorated slightly. The percentage of respondents who consider that their country's interests are taken into account by the EU is down by one percentage point, while the proportion who take the opposite view has seen a 2-point rise. The impression that national interests are not properly taken into account thus continues to dominate European opinion (52% versus 41%)29.

Regardless of the group of countries considered, this point is illustrated by the fact that an absolute majority of respondents agree that national interests are poorly taken into account by the EU. This is the case for 55% (-1 percentage point) of respondents in countries outside the euro area, 54% (unchanged) in NMS12 countries, 51% (+2) in EU15 countries and 50% (+3) of euro area respondents.

Since the Standard Eurobarometer of spring 2012, the opinion ratio has now reversed negatively manner in the Netherlands: 47% of respondents (versus 46%) now feel that their country's interests are inadequately taken into consideration by the EU, while 51% (versus 43%) were of the opposite opinion in spring 2012. The ratio has reversed in a positive direction in Poland (50% versus 40% now; 43% versus 45% in spring 2012). Poland thus joins the group of eight countries where respondents are more likely to believe that the EU does take account of national interests, alongside Luxembourg (69%), Germany (60%), Denmark (52%), Belgium (50%), Malta (49% versus 40%), France (49% versus 43%) and Sweden (49% versus 46%). Within this group, there is nevertheless a sharp downward trend in Belgium (the belief that the EU takes proper account of national interests has declined by 11 points since spring 2012) and in France (-8).

28 QA20a.4 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. My voice counts in the EU. 29 QA20a.2 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. The interests of (OUR COUNTRY) are well taken into account in the EU.

STANDA

The pereverywgained Greece and Por

Public othirds ovoice co

Recognspring 2becauseopinion3

The feereversinEurobar+1). It it (49%

The belsharply minorityopinion German 30QA20a.6voice cou31 QA20aam safer

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ised as a g2012 - as ae their coun31.

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% +7).

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R 78

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U – AUTUM

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ts. I feel I


60

3. EUROPEANS AND GLOBALISATION

– Over half of Europeans believe that globalisation is an opportunity for growth; two-thirds believe that their country cannot cope with the

negative effects of globalisation alone –

3.1. Globalisation: an opportunity for economic growth?

Over half of Europeans (51%) see globalisation as an opportunity for economic growth. In contrast, a little over a third (35%) do not do so, while 14% have no opinion32.

There has been a slight increase in positive representations of globalisation, which are up by two percentage points since the spring 2012 survey (EB77) and four points since autumn 2011 (EB76). Meanwhile, negative perceptions remain unchanged. The trend is thus towards an improving image of globalisation among Europeans, although it has not returned to the level of support it enjoyed in spring 2010, in the Eurobarometer EB73 survey. The positive opinion differential on globalisation is now +16 compared with +14 in spring 2012, and +12 in autumn 2011, but still far from the +29 of spring 2010.

32 QA20a.7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth.


61

Globalisation is predominantly seen as an opportunity for economic growth in 19 Member States. As in previous surveys, the highest levels are recorded in the Nordic countries (79% in Denmark, 77% in Sweden and 70% in Finland), the Netherlands (74%) and Germany (67%). In this predominantly positive group, opinions of globalisation have improved sharply in Ireland (62% +7 percentage points), Poland (55% +8) and Hungary (55% +7).

The opinion ratio has deteriorated in three countries: Belgium, where it is now evenly balanced (48% versus 48%), whereas it was positive in spring 2012 (54% versus 41%); Portugal (35% versus 44% now; 39% versus 37% in spring 2012); and Romania (29% versus 37% now; 35% versus 33% in spring 2012) where it has reversed.

The negative perception of the economic role of globalisation has gained ground or remains unchanged in countries where it was already dominant in spring 2012: Greece (71% +9 points), Cyprus (61% +8), Italy (51% unchanged) and the Czech Republic (49% +5, versus 40%). Lastly, opinion is evenly divided in France (46% unchanged, versus 45%).

The socio-demographic analysis reveals significant divisions between categories, as was the case in previous Eurobarometer surveys: the young, the most highly educated and the most affluent classes of society are more likely to see the economic dimension of globalisation in a positive light than older generations, the least educated and those on low-incomes who encounter financial difficulties. For example, one-third of people who have trouble paying their bills have a positive image of globalisation compared with 57% of those who almost never have such difficulties.

STANDA

3.2.

Two-thinegativno opin

This is convincis confirespondglobalisin the N

33 QA20aalone can

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irds of Eurve effects oion33.

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ng already to work to in every eir countryatio ranges

agree with ealisation.

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tion

"their counorse this a

mentioneogether, forEuropean Uy could fa from 83%

ach of the foll

N IN THE EU

ntry alone rgument, w

d above: r example wUnion counace the ne/11% in Fr

owing statem

U – AUTUM

can cope wwhile 11%

Europeans within the ntry, a majegative effrance to 50

ments? (OUR C

N 2012

62

with the express

remain EU. This jority of fects of 0%/40%

COUNTRY)

STANDA

Within effects versus 40% in

For a mterms oexpressEuropeato respobetter b

Whetherole in cannot the Eurground EU doethe properceptglobalis

ARD EUROB

the candidof globalisa46%). A Turkey (ve

more accurof globalisas itself regaan citizens ond to a pobenefit from

er the stateglobalisatiocope with

ropean Unio in public os not play portion whtions of thesation, altho

BAROMETER

date countration on itsll the otheersus 32%

rate undertion, the saarding a ne from the nositive descm the positi

ement is woon is clearlyglobalisatio

on gives propinion. In a protectivo believe te EU as a ough the o

R 78

ries, the vis own comr countries of "total ag

standing oample was egative desnegative efcription of give effects

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iew that thmands the take the ogree") to 68

of European divided intscription offfects of gloglobalisatioof globalisa

tively or newer than suown today. gainst the ney, the percinst globals fulfil this ling peopleo for this in

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he country e smallest oopposite vi8% in Croa

ns’ represeto two partf globalisatobalisation"on: "the EUation".

egatively, aupport for t Since sprinegative efcentage of isation is fo role. Theree to benefitdicator rem

N IN THE EU

can cope of majoritieew, with le

atia (versus

entations os. The firstion: "the E". The seco enables Eu

acknowledgthe statemng 2009, tffects of glo Europeansor the first e is also a dt from the

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U – AUTUM

with the nes in Icelanevels rangis 22%).

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N 2012

63

negative nd (47% ng from

s role in asked to o protect as asked tizens to

the EU’s country tion that has lost that the ter than trend in ffects of rable.


64

The negative wording (SPLIT A)

Over four in ten Europeans (44%) now believe that the EU does not help European citizens protect themselves from the negative effects of globalisation. This proportion is up four points from spring 2012 and for the first time exceeds the proportion of Europeans who accept the European Union's protective role (42% +1 percentage point)34.

Since 2009, the opinion ratio for this indicator has steadily deteriorated. The differential between positive and negative opinions has fallen from +11 in the spring 2009 Eurobarometer survey (EB71) to +4 in spring 2010 (EB73), +1 in spring 2012 (EB77), and -2 today. The image of the EU as a protective force against the negative effects of globalisation is thus slowly eroding.

The EU's protective role is acknowledged most by respondents within NMS12 countries (46% "total agree" versus 38%) and countries outside the euro area (44% versus 39%). However, it is generally denied by respondents in the EU15 countries (45% "total disagree" versus 41%) and within the euro area (46% versus 41%).

The opinion ratio is now evenly balanced in Belgium (47% versus 47%), though it was significantly positive in spring 2012 (52% versus 40%). Under the influence of increases of 17 and 9 percentage points respectively in negative perceptions, the opinion ratio has deteriorated in the Czech Republic (31% versus 59% now; 42% versus 42% in spring 2012) and Romania (36% versus 40% now; 31% versus 31% in 2012). In contrast, this ratio is now positive in Hungary (49% versus 41% now; 45% versus 46% in spring 2012) and Luxembourg (41% versus 40% now; 43% versus 43% in 2012).

34 QA20a.9. Split A. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The EU helps to protect European citizens from the negative effects of globalisation.

STANDA

Overall,majoritySwedenpercept(+8). Twe have

RepreseStates, (56%) versus (40% vstrikingthe Unit

ARD EUROB

, the EU is y of responn (52%), tion has gaThe EU’s role previousl

entations o especially and France44%), the

versus 36%ly in the Cted Kingdo

BAROMETER

seen as a ndents in DFinland (5ined signifile is therefy identified

of the EU a in Greece e and Italye UK (44%%). This pCzech Repum (+8), an

R 78

protective fenmark (631%), and icant grounore viewedd as having

as unable t (68%), thy (both 52

% versus 3ortrayal is

ublic (+17)nd France a

PUBLI

force in 163%), PolanIreland an

nd in Bulgad most favo a positive

to provide e Czech Re%); and b

37%), Portus gaining g), Cyprus (and Sloveni

IC OPINION

EU Membend (56%), Bnd the Neria (+10 pe

ourably in a view of glo

protectionepublic (59by narroweugal (43%ground in +11), Greea (both +6

N IN THE EU

er States, aBulgaria (56etherlands ercentage palmost all thobalisation.

predomin9%), Cyprur majoritie versus 35all of thesece and Ro

6).

U – AUTUM

and by an a6%), Malta(both 50%points) andhe countrie

ate in 10 us (57%), Ses in Austri5%) and Rse countrieomania (bo

N 2012

65

absolute a (55%), %). This d Poland es which

Member Slovenia ia (49% Romania es, most oth +9),


66

These views of the EU's role are subject to the same social determinants as views of globalisation. The European Union is perceived as protective by the younger generations and by educated individuals who are well integrated socially and economically. However, this view is not shared by a majority among the older generations and the poorer and insecure segments of the European population.

The positive wording (SPLIT B)

The representation of the European Union as a lever enabling people to benefit from the positive effects of globalisation receives more support than was measured for its protective role. 47% of Europeans agree that "the EU enables European citizens to better benefit from the positive effects of globalisation", while 36% express the opposite view, and 17% gave no answer35.

Both positive and negative judgements have increased by one percentage point, so that the opinion ratio remains at the same level as in spring 2012. Although this ratio is still generally favourable, the underlying trend in recent years has been downward. The opinion differential is thus +11 today, compared with +16 in spring 2010 (EB73), +24 in spring 2009 (EB71) and +27 in autumn 2009 (EB72).

Compared to the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2012, the opinion ratio has reversed to positive effect in France (48% versus 38% now; 41% versus 42% in spring 2012) and in Austria (45% versus 43% now; 45 % versus 46% in 2012); once again, it has reversed negatively in Belgium (43% versus 48% now; 52% versus 41% in spring 2012) and also in Portugal (36% versus 45% now; 41% versus 35% in 2012).

35 QA20a.10. Split B. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The EU enables European citizens to better benefit from the positive effects of globalisation.

STANDA

France benefit (75%), (both 5

Within tin Bulga

Negativ(48% vPortugaBelgium

ARD EUROB

thus joins from glob Sweden (8%).

this group,aria (+9 pe

ve opinionsversus 43%al (45% vem (+7).

BAROMETER

the group balisation. T(69%), Fin

, this positiercentage p

s dominate%), Italy (47ersus 36%)

R 78

of Member The highesland (66%

ive perceptpoints) and

e in six co7% versus ). They are

PUBLI

r States whst levels of

%), the Net

tion of the in France a

ountries, G 37%), the e up sharp

IC OPINION

ich agree tf agreementherlands (

EU's role hand Luxem

Greece (61% Czech Reply in Portu

N IN THE EU

that the EUnt are reco59%) and

has gained bourg (bot

%), Cypruspublic (47%ugal (+10),

U – AUTUM

U enables porded in D Malta and

significanth +7).

s (56%), % versus 39, Cyprus (+

N 2012

67

eople to Denmark d Poland

t ground

Belgium 9%) and +8) and


68

4. THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS

– Awareness of the European institutions has reached an all-time high –

4.1. Awareness of European institutions and the trust they inspire

Awareness of the European Parliament has reached its highest level (91% +1 percentage point), maintaining its leading position as the best-known institution. Up four percentage points since spring 2012 (EB77) and seven since autumn 2011 (EB76), awareness of the European Commission stands at 85% a level never before achieved in the Eurobarometer. Since the spring 2009 survey (EB71), awareness of the Central Bank has grown steadily, gaining 10 points and reaching the current record of 85% (+2 since spring 2012). Awareness of the Council of the European Union, which now stands at 71% is up by three percentage points since spring 2012, and nine since autumn 2011; while the Court of Justice has gained two percentage points since spring 2012 and seven since spring 201036.

36 QA15.1+2+3+4+5 Have you heard of…? The European Parliament/The European Commission/The European Central Bank/The Council of the European Union/The Court of Justice of the European Union


69

Since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2010 (EB74), there had been a continued erosion of trust in the European institutions. This survey marks a break in that trend, with a significant rise in trust in all the European institutions that were tested. Although a renewal of trust seems to have been set in motion, these institutions are still far from regaining the trust they enjoyed before the crisis37.

The previous survey had revealed a sharp decline in trust in southern European Union countries (Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal and Italy), which had often been hit hard by the debt crisis. In this survey, trust remains at a very low level in Greece, Cyprus and Spain but has seen a very marked recovery in both Italy and Portugal. Although views in these countries had tended to evolve in step since 2009, they diverge for the first time in this survey.

37 QA16.1+2+3+4 +5. For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it. The European Parliament; The European Commission; The Council of the European Union; The European Central Bank; The Court of Justice of the European Union.

STANDA

The Eu

The ind1 comppercentnot to respondtend no

Howeveheard opreconcinstituti

In this 2012), Austria MembeLatvia, Portuga(67%), has gaiIreland

The truwherea

Distrustspring unchan

38 Differe

ARD EUROB

uropean Pa

ex of trust pared with tage pointstrust it anddents who ot to do so)

er, this indeof the Euroceptions regions tested

survey, thPortugal (+ (+4 versur States (BLithuania,

al, Romania Bulgaria (6ned most g and Bulga

ust-distrusts it was ne

t is therefo2012: Greeged) and C

nce between t

BAROMETER

arliament

in the Euro -6 in spri since sprind 11% (-3have heard.

ex is very lopean Parlgarding the in this sur

he trust ind+1 versus s -6). IncluBelgium, Bu, Luxemboa, Slovenia61%) and ground in Pria (both +

t ratio is eegative in sp

ore only doece (70%,

Cyprus (48%

the "tend to t

R 78

opean Parliing 2012 ang 2012) tr

3) express d of the Eu

argely negiament, stae Europeanvey.

dex is posit-12), Irela

uding theseulgaria, Deourg, Hung, Slovakia,LuxembourPoland (+17).

evenly balapring 2012

minant in f unchanged%, +5, vers

rust it" and "t

PUBLI

ament has and -4 in rust the Euno opinionropean Par

ative amonanding at

n Parliamen

tive once aand (+3 vee countries,enmark, Gegary, Malt, Finland arg and Pola1), Malta (

anced in th (43% vers

four countrd), Spain (sus 39%).

tend not to tru

IC OPINION

improved autumn 20

uropean Parn. The trustrliament (4

ng responde-35. Theset. This tren

again in Itaersus -10), , trust is noermany, Esta, the Nend Sweden

and (both 6+10), Port

he Czech Rsus 47%).

ries, where(66%, +4)

ust it" percent

N IN THE EU

in this surv011. 44% rliament wht index sta6% trust it

ents who he respondend applies t

aly (+1 ve Slovenia (ow higher tstonia, Irelaetherlands,n) and is h60%). Withiugal and It

Republic (4

as this was, the Unite

tages.

U – AUTUM

vey38. It staof Europeahile 45% (-ands at +2t, versus 4

have not prents have nto all the E

ersus -14 in(2 versus -than distruand, Franc, Austria, ighest in Din this groutaly (both

46% versu

s the case ed Kingdom

N 2012

70

ands at -ans (+4 -1) tend

2 among 2% who

eviously negative uropean

n spring 10) and

ust in 22 e, Italy, Poland,

Denmark up, trust +8) and

us 46%)

in 10 in m (65%,

STANDA

The Eu

In the measurtrust in-10 in s

Four in 44% (-among howeve

The ind(+21) anegativfour groindex inEU15 co

Since thIreland versus States LuxembFinland in trustLithuan

ARD EUROB

uropean Co

previous sured in the Edex has nespring 2012

ten Europe2) do not t respondener, it is very

dex of trustand just abve within thoups of coun NMS12 countries an

he EB77 su (+3 vers-7). These(Belgium,

bourg, Hun and Swedt is especiia (both +8

BAROMETER

ommission

urvey, the Eurobaromeevertheless 2 (EB77) an

eans (40% trust it and nts who hy negative

t in the Eubove equilibhe euro areuntries sharcountries and a 5-point

urvey in spsus -10 in e evolution Bulgaria,

ngary, Malten), compaally marke8 points).

R 78

n

European eter. Altho recovered nd -7 in aut

+4 percen 16% (-2) ave previoamong tho

ropean Cobrium in coea (-6) andre the trendnd in count rise within

pring 2012, spring 20s mean th Denmarkta, the Neared with 1ed in Polan

PUBLI

Commissiough distrus significanttumn 2011

ntage pointsexpress no

ously heardse who hav

mmission iountries outd EU15 coud toward re

ntries outsidn the euro

, the trust 012), Latvat trust no

k, Estoniaetherlands, 15 in springnd (+12 pe

IC OPINION

on reached st remains tly. It stand (EB76).

s) trust theo opinion. Td of the Eve not prev

is very postside the e

untries (-10enewed trude the eurarea.

index has via (+2 veow is now , France, Poland, Rg 2012. Wercentage

N IN THE EU

its lowest dominant ds at -4 tod

e European The trust indEuropean Cviously done

sitive in theuro area (+

0). To varyiust, with a o area, a 6

return to persus -1) a

dominant Ireland,

Romania, Sithin this gpoints) an

U – AUTUM

level of truin this survday compa

Commissiodex is just Commissioe so (-34).

e NMS12 c+1). Howeving degree 7-point ris6-point ris

positive terand Slovein 18 EU Latvia, Lit

Slovakia, Sgroup, the nd in Bulga

N 2012

71

ust ever vey, the red with

on while positive n (+1);

ountries ver, it is s, these

se in the e in the

rritory in nia (+1 Member thuania,

Slovenia, increase aria and


72

Distrust remains dominant in nine countries (the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Austria, Portugal and the United Kingdom), with the highest scores in Greece (77%), Spain (64%), the United Kingdom (61%) and Cyprus (52%). Portugal and Italy's presence within this group should nevertheless not hide the strong revival of trust in the European Commission in these two Member States. Their trust indices have moved since spring 2012 from -16 to -2 in Italy and from -15 to -1 in Portugal.

The European Central Bank

Of all the institutions tested, the European Central Bank is the one that arouses the most distrust and where the upturn in trust is the most limited. Distrust of this institution thus remains largely dominant in European opinion.

Nearly half of Europeans (49% unchanged) do not trust the European Central Bank, while 37% (+2 percentage points) instead trust this institution. The trust index has gained only two points and stands at -12, compared with -14 in spring 2012 and -10 in autumn 2011. It stands at -9 among respondents who have previously heard of the European Central Bank, and at -35 among those who have not done so.

An absolute majority of respondents in the EU15 countries (53%) and in the euro area (52%) do not trust the European Central Bank, almost unchanged since the previous Eurobarometer survey. The trust-distrust ratio is close to equilibrium among countries outside the euro area (39% versus 43%) and is very positive in NMS12 countries (47% versus 34%).

Since the spring 2012 survey, the main evolution concerns Belgium's entry into the group of countries with a negative trust index; this now stands at -6 compared with +7 in spring 2012. The same is true of Latvia, at -2 compared with 0. These developments bring to 13 the number of EU countries where a majority distrust the European Central Bank (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Kingdom). This distrust is even expressed by an absolute majority of respondents in Greece (81%), Spain (75%), the UK (60%), Cyprus (53%), Germany (52%), Ireland and Slovenia (both 51%) and Belgium and Portugal (both 50%). Although the trend within this group is marked by either stability or a decline in the trust index, Italy and Portugal once again prove to be exceptions. The index has recovered dramatically in Italy, from -35 to -11, and falls from -18 to -13 in Portugal.

In countries where trust is predominant, it has gained most ground in Poland (+10) and Lithuania (+9).


73

The Council of the European Union

36% of Europeans (+4 percentage points) say they trust the Council of the European Union, while 43% (-1) instead distrust it. The proportion of respondents who have no opinion is down three percentage points but remains high, at 21%. The trust index remains negative at -7 but has risen by five percentage points since spring 2012. It is positive among those who have previously heard of the Council (+2), but stands at -27 among those who have never heard of it.

Distrust in this institution is dominant in 10 EU Member States, most of which, as we have seen, also distrust the previous institutions: Greece (74%), Spain (62%), the United Kingdom (59%), Cyprus (51%), Austria (46% versus 37%), Slovenia (46% versus 43%), Portugal (45% versus 39%), the Czech Republic (45% versus 42%), Italy (43% versus 35%) and Germany (39% versus 35% along with a very high D/K rate: 26%).

Trust has risen sharply in Poland (+12). And as in the case of the other institutions, the index in Italy – while remaining negative – has recovered very sharply, climbing from -22 in spring 2012 to -8 today.

The Court of Justice of the European Union

As was the case in spring 2012, the Court of Justice is the only European institution that is trusted by a majority. This trust has consolidated in this survey (49%, +3 percentage points, versus 34%, -2). As with the other European institutions, the trust index is higher among respondents who have previously heard of the Court of Justice of the European Union (+27), than among those who have never heard of it (-24): this is the institution in respect of which the difference between these two groups is the most significant.

The trust index returns to positive territory in Portugal (+2 compared with -7 in spring 2012), and distrust is only expressed by a majority in four Member States: Greece (60%), Spain (59%), the United Kingdom (50%) and Italy (39% versus 35%). Once again a significant recovery of the trust index is observed in Italy, passing from -20 in spring 2012 to -4 today.


74


75

4.2. Trust in the European Union

For the first time since the Standard Eurobarometer of autumn 2010 (EB74), the continuous deterioration of trust and concomitant growth of distrust of the European Union has come to a halt. Standing at 57%, distrust has fallen by three percentage points since spring 2012, while trust has gained two percentage points, rising to 33%39. Although the downward trend has stopped, the European Union is nevertheless still far from regaining all the ground it has lost since the autumn 2009 survey (EB72). The trust-distrust ratio, measured at -24 in this autumn 2012 survey, is the second worst ratio ever measured in the history of the Eurobarometer. It stood at +8 in autumn 2009.

Although it became negative for the first time in the history of the Eurobarometer in the previous survey, the trust index in the NMS12 countries is positive once more in this survey (+2 versus -4 in spring 2012). However, it remains firmly negative in EU15 countries (-32 versus -35), euro area Member States (-28 versus -31) and countries outside the euro area (-18 compared with -25). In these three groups of countries, an absolute majority of respondents expressed distrust of the European Union.

In this survey, the trust index has become negative in Belgium (-5 versus 0 in spring 2012) and in Slovakia (-3 versus +2). In contrast, it has recovered sharply in Poland (+6 versus -5).

39 QA11.8. For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it. The European Union.


76

In total, the European Union currently only enjoys majority trust in seven Member States: Bulgaria (60% versus 24%), Lithuania (49% versus 37%), Poland (48% versus 42%), Denmark (48% versus 46%), Estonia (46% versus 38%), Malta (46% versus 34%) and Romania (45% versus 40%). Within this group, trust has risen significantly in Bulgaria (+5 points) but has lost ground in Estonia (-6).

Distrust is therefore the majority position in 20 EU countries, led by Greece (81%), Spain (72%), the UK (69%), Cyprus (64%), Sweden (62%), the Czech Republic (60%) and Germany (59%). In this group of 20 Member States, a significant recovery of the trust index is nevertheless observed in ten countries. Since spring 2012, the index has risen from -40 to -22 in Italy, from -32 to -24 in Portugal, from -28 to -18 in Austria, from -17 to -7 in Hungary, from -14 to -1 in Finland, from -59 to -49 in the United Kingdom, from -33 to -26 in the Czech Republic, from -15 to -8 in the Netherlands, from -13 to -9 in Latvia and from -31 to -29 in Germany.

Within the candidate countries, the trust index is only positive in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro (both +7). It is negative and declining in Turkey (-40 versus -33 in spring 2012), Serbia (-26 versus -16) and Croatia (-24 versus -18). It remains negative but has improved slightly in Iceland (-22 versus -27).

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79

Greece (67% "describes very badly" responses versus 32%) and Portugal (48% versus 45%) are the only two countries where a majority of respondents do not see the EU as democratic. Opinions are sharply divided in the UK (45% "describes well" versus 44%). Elsewhere, an absolute majority of respondents agree on the democratic nature of the EU. This should not, however, hide the fact that except in Germany, the United Kingdom and France, where the responses remain stable, and Finland (+5), this positive view has lost ground in all EU countries, with very large falls in Italy (-22), Greece (-21), Spain (-21), Portugal (-20), Cyprus (-20), Slovakia (-18) and the Czech Republic (-14).

The modernity of the EU is recognized by 58% of Europeans, a decline of six percentage points from autumn 2010. However, 33% (+6 percentage points) do not consider the EU to be modern. 9% (unchanged) express no opinion. The EU appears modern to an absolute majority of respondents in 23 EU countries and to a relative majority in two of them. Only in Greece and Sweden (50% versus 47% in both countries) do a majority consider that the term modern describes the European Union badly. As before, the view of the EU as modern declined most sharply in Italy (-16), Cyprus (-15), Slovakia (-14), Spain (-12), Portugal (-11), the Czech Republic (-11) and Greece (-8).

Lastly, the ratio of opinions becomes tighter on the protective nature of the EU. 47% of Europeans (-7 percentage points since autumn 2010) see the EU as protective, though 44% (+9) do not do so. 9% (-2) express no opinion. Although in autumn 2010 (54% versus 35%), and to an even greater extent in autumn 2008 (57% versus 29%), the idea of a protective EU attracted a wide consensus in Europe, opinions are now much more divided.

The erosion of the EU’s “protective” image is evident in 22 of the 27 EU countries, and is very marked in Italy (-23), Greece (-18), Slovakia (-17), Spain (-16), Portugal (-16) and Cyprus (-15). Consequent to these downward trends, the ratio of opinions has reversed since autumn 2010 in six countries, France (43% versus 50% compared with 47% versus 43% in autumn 2010), Italy (37% versus 53% compared with 60% versus 31%), Portugal (36% versus 57% compared with 52% versus 34%), Spain (36% versus 53% compared with 52% versus 33%), the United Kingdom (44% versus 45% compared with 43% versus 38%) and Cyprus (36% versus 59% compared with 51% versus 38%). With Greece (21% versus 78%) and Austria (44% versus 51%) there are now eight countries where a majority of respondents feel that the word "protective" does not describe the EU well. Only four countries thus resist the downward trend in this indicator, Lithuania (+2) Denmark (+3), Finland (+3) and most notably Germany, where the perception of the EU as “protective” has seen an 8-point rise. The protective dimension of the EU is most widely perceived in Denmark (69%) and Lithuania (67%).


80

Negative characteristics

An absolute majority of Europeans (51%) now consider the EU to be "technocratic", an increase of four percentage points since autumn 2010. However, just over a quarter (26%, +2 percentage points) believe that this term describes the EU badly and 23% (-6) express no opinion. The idea that the European Union is technocratic is widespread in all Member States, and includes an absolute majority of respondents in 16 of them, led by Greece (68%), Cyprus (64%), Belgium (61%), France (60%), Germany (60%) and Finland (60%). This description has gained ground significantly in Bulgaria (+24), Poland (+20), Lithuania (+14) and Romania (+10).

Finally, a large majority of Europeans (58% against 33%) do not regard the EU as efficient. Six countries stand out clearly from the European norm: an absolute majority of respondents in Bulgaria (62%), Lithuania (60%) and Poland (59%) and a relative majority in Estonia (46% versus 38%), Malta (47% versus 34%) and Romania (47% versus 28%) recognise the efficiency of the EU. In contrast, respondents are most likely to say that “efficient” does not describe the EU in Sweden (82%), Greece (80%), the Netherlands (77%) and the United Kingdom (68%).

STANDA

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PUBLIIC OPINIONN IN THE EUU – AUTUMN 2012

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83

5.2. Objective Knowledge of the European Union

This Eurobarometer survey also included a test of Europeans’ objective knowledge of the EU. To this end, three statements ("the EU currently consists of 27 Member States", "the members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State", "Switzerland is a member of the EU") were put to the respondents, who were asked to say whether each statement was true or false. The same question was asked in the previous Eurobarometer survey in spring 2012.

Objective knowledge of the EU remains essentially the same as in spring 2012: the average of correct answers to the three questions is 63% (=); that of wrong answers is 20% (=), and the average of "don't know" responses is 17%. The average of correct answers for the three statements exceeds 50% in all Member States, the lowest scores being recorded in the United Kingdom (53%), Spain (56%) and Latvia (57%), and the highest in Greece (80%), Luxembourg (78%) and Slovenia (77%).

Detailed analysis shows that more than seven out of ten Europeans (71%, =) know that Switzerland is not a member of the EU, while 17% (+1 percentage point) answer wrongly and 12% (-1) say they “don't know”43. In every European Union country, a majority of respondents answers the question correctly. The highest rate of correct answers is recorded in Luxembourg (92%), the lowest in Romania (52%) and Latvia (52%).

A little more than two-thirds of Europeans know that the EU currently consists of 27 Member States, while 12% answer wrongly and 21% reply "don't know"44. These proportions show no change since spring 2012. An absolute majority of respondents are able to give the correct answer in all European Union countries, ranging from 51% in the UK to 84% in Slovakia.

Finally, though the proportion of correct answers is lower for the statement that "the members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State," an absolute majority of Europeans nevertheless correctly answer in the affirmative (52%, = compared to spring 2012). Three in ten mistakenly think that the statement is false (30%, =), and 18% say they “don't know”45. The Netherlands is the only EU country where a majority of respondents give the wrong answer (50% against 41%).

Following five and three-point increases in correct answers respectively, a relative majority of respondents in Austria (47% versus 40%) and France (41% versus 37%) now answer correctly, which was not the case in spring 2012.

43 QA17.3 For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false. Switzerland is a member of the EU. 44 QA17.1 For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false. The EU currently consists of 27 Member States. 45 QA17.2 For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false. The members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State.


84

The European Parliament's electoral system is most familiar in Greece (85%), Malta (85%) and Cyprus (83%), and the ratio of right to wrong answers remains fairly even in Germany (43% against 40%).

Objective knowledge of the EU varies considerably depending on interest in politics. The average of correct answers ranges from 74% among respondents who have a strong interest in politics to 49% among those who are not at all interested in politics. The figure is 69% for those with an interest in European affairs, and 54% for those with no interest.

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An absolute majority of respondents in all European Union countries support this policy, most strikingly in Slovakia (84%), Cyprus (84%), Estonia (84%) Bulgaria (83%) and Slovenia (83%).

Support for this policy has increased in particular in Hungary (+7), Ireland (+7) and Slovenia (+6). Under the effect of this evolution, an absolute majority of respondents in Ireland now say they are in favour of this policy, whereas only a relative majority did so in spring 2012. This country nevertheless has one of the highest proportions of opponents (34%, unchanged) of a common security and defence policy in the EU, as do the United Kingdom (37%, unchanged), Sweden (43%, +1) and Finland (44%, +4).

A common foreign policy of the 27 Member States of the EU

Nearly two-thirds of Europeans (64%, +3 points) support a common foreign policy of the 27 Member States of the EU, while 26% (-2) say they are opposed and 10% (-1) express no opinion47.

Traditionally, opinions in the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom are the most hostile to a common foreign policy. This is once again confirmed in this survey. Opposition continues to command a majority in Sweden (60%, +1 versus 37%), Finland (55%, +4, versus 41%), Denmark (50%, -2, versus 46%) and the United Kingdom (46%, -3, versus 40%). In almost all other countries, an absolute majority of respondents support a common foreign policy, with the highest levels of support in Bulgaria (78%), Germany (77%) and Slovakia (77%). The sole exceptions are the Czech Republic (49% versus 46%) and Malta (48% versus 31%) where the majority is only relative.

Support has consolidated significantly in France (+8) and Spain (+6). However, it is crumbling in Ireland (-9).

European economic and monetary union with a single currency, the euro

53% of Europeans (+1 percentage point) support economic and monetary union. Four in ten (unchanged) are opposed and 7% (-1) express no opinion48. While the ratio between favourable / unfavourable opinions initially narrowed between spring 2007 (EB67) and autumn 2011 (EB76), it has remain remarkably stable since.

47 QA18.2. Please tell me for each statement, whether you are for it or against it. A common foreign policy of the 27 Member States of the EU. 48 QA18.1. Please tell me for each statement, whether you are for it or against it. A European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro.

STANDA

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89

However, the question of enlargement provokes strong disparities depending on the group of countries concerned. As in the spring 2012, and with no major change, an absolute majority of respondents in the EU15 countries (58%) and the euro area (58%) are opposed to future enlargement. In contrast, support for enlargement is dominant and has even strengthened in the NMS12 countries (59%, +3) and in countries outside the euro area (49%, +3, against 41%).

National analysis highlights significant differences between Member States. There is support for enlargement in 10 of them: Poland (69%), Lithuania (62%), Slovenia (61%), Romania (58%), Bulgaria (58%), Hungary (54%), Malta (50%), Latvia (49% versus 36%), Estonia (47% versus 42%) and Spain (46% versus 35%). Within this group the most significant evolutions are the increase in support in Poland (+7) and Spain (+5).

Though it was positive in spring 2012, the ratio of opinions is now evenly balanced in Slovakia (46% versus 46% compared to 52% versus 42%) and Sweden (48% versus 48% compared to 51% versus 45%). The ratio is now negative in Portugal (40% versus 46% compared with 44% versus 41%). Portugal joins the bloc of 15 countries in the survey where opposition to enlargement is the majority position, opposition being strongest in Germany (73%), Austria (72%), Luxembourg (70%) and France (68%). Within this group, the only change concerns Ireland, where support for enlargement rose nine percentage points, narrowing the ratio sharply (43% versus 44% compared with 34% versus 47% in spring 2012).

European political parties to present their candidate for the post of European Commission President at the next European Parliament elections.

Tested for the first time in this survey, this proposal has the support of an absolute majority of 58% of Europeans, while 21% say they are opposed and a further 21% express no opinion50. The majority of respondents in all EU countries support this idea, most strikingly in Hungary (76%), Sweden (71%), Germany (69%), Slovakia (69%), Greece (67%) and Denmark (67%). In the United Kingdom (44% versus 32%) and Estonia (49% versus 17%), the proposal commands only a relative majority. Respondents are less likely to have taken up a firm opinion on this proposal; the "don't know" rate ranges from 12% in Belgium and Hungary to 34% in Latvia and Estonia.

50 QA18.5. Please tell me for each statement, whether you are for it or against it. European political parties to present their candidate for the post of European Commission President at the next European Parliament elections.

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BAROMETER

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U – AUTUM

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U – AUTUM

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N 2012

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BAROMETER

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U – AUTUM

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pessimistic


97

Optimism is therefore dominant in the remaining 19 Member States, with the highest levels in Denmark (72%), Poland (66%), Lithuania (65%) and Bulgaria (64%). Within this group of countries, optimism has gained ground significantly in Bulgaria (+6) Finland (+4) and Ireland (+4); in contrast, it has declined noticeably in Romania (-5), Slovenia (-4) and Slovakia (-4).

As in all previous Eurobarometer surveys, social variables play an important role in determining expectations about the future of the European Union. Firstly, the level of optimism increases with an individual's social position and socio-economic situation: 33% of people who have difficulty paying their bills most of the time and 37% of those at the bottom of the social scale are optimistic about the future of the EU, compared with 55% and 59% respectively of respondents who almost never have difficulty meeting their bills and who position themselves at the top of the social scale. Secondly, it decreases linearly with age: 58% of 15-24 year olds, 51% of 25-39 year olds, 48% of 40-54 year olds and 46% of those aged 55 and over look forward with optimism to the future of the EU.

Lastly, the extent of optimism also varies significantly in accordance with attitudes towards the EU: optimism is more widespread among people who have a good knowledge of the EU (56%), who trust the EU (79%), or who feel that their voice is taken into account in the EU (75%) than among those who have a poor knowledge of the EU (36%), who distrust it (33%), or who believe their voice is not heard in the EU (37%).

ANNEXES

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Between the 3rd and the 18th of November, TNS Opinion & Social, a consortium created between TNS plc and TNS opinion, carried out the wave 78.1 of the EUROBAROMETER survey, on request of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Directorate-General for Communication, “Research and Speechwriting”. The wave 78.1 is the STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 78 survey and covers the population of the respective nationalities of the European Union Member States, resident in each of the Member States and aged 15 years and over. The STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 78 survey has also been conducted in the six candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Serbia) and in the Turkish Cypriot Community. In these countries, the survey covers the national population of citizens and the population of citizens of all the European Union Member States that are residents in these countries and have a sufficient command of the national languages to answer the questionnaire. The basic sample design applied in all states is a multi-stage, random (probability) one. In each country, a number of sampling points was drawn with probability proportional to population size (for a total coverage of the country) and to population density.

In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically from each of the "administrative regional units", after stratification by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole territory of the countries surveyed according to the EUROSTAT NUTS II (or equivalent) and according to the distribution of the resident population of the respective nationalities in terms of metropolitan, urban and rural areas. In each of the selected sampling points, a starting address was drawn, at random. Further addresses (every Nth address) were selected by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial address. In each household, the respondent was drawn, at random (following the "closest birthday rule"). All interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes and in the appropriate national language. As far as the data capture is concerned, CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) was used in those countries where this technique was available. For each country a comparison between the sample and the universe was carried out. The Universe description was derived from Eurostat population data or from national statistics offices. For all countries surveyed, a national weighting procedure, using marginal and intercellular weighting, was carried out based on this Universe description. In all countries, gender, age, region and size of locality were introduced in the iteration procedure. For international weighting (i.e. EU averages), TNS Opinion & Social applies the official population figures as provided by EUROSTAT or national statistic offices. The total population figures for input in this post-weighting procedure are listed above.

TS1


Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, the accuracy of which, everything being equal, rests upon the sample size and upon the observed percentage. With samples of about 1,000 interviews, the real percentages vary within the following confidence limits:

various sample sizes are in rows various observed results are in columns

5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50%

N=50 6,0 8,3 9,9 11,1 12,0 12,7 13,2 13,6 13,8 13,9 N=50

N=500 1,9 2,6 3,1 3,5 3,8 4,0 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,4 N=500

N=1000 1,4 1,9 2,2 2,5 2,7 2,8 3,0 3,0 3,1 3,1 N=1000

N=1500 1,1 1,5 1,8 2,0 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,5 2,5 N=1500

N=2000 1,0 1,3 1,6 1,8 1,9 2,0 2,1 2,1 2,2 2,2 N=2000

N=3000 0,8 1,1 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 1,7 1,8 1,8 1,8 N=3000

N=4000 0,7 0,9 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,5 N=4000

N=5000 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,3 1,4 1,4 1,4 N=5000

N=6000 0,6 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,3 1,3 N=6000

N=7000 0,5 0,7 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,1 1,1 1,1 1,2 1,2 N=7000

N=7500 0,5 0,7 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,1 1,1 1,1 1,1 N=7500

N=8000 0,5 0,7 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,1 1,1 1,1 N=8000

N=9000 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 N=9000

N=10000 0,4 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,0 N=10000

N=11000 0,4 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,9 0,9 0,9 0,9 0,9 N=11000

N=12000 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,9 0,9 0,9 0,9 N=12000

N=13000 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,9 0,9 N=13000

N=14000 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 N=14000

N=15000 0,3 0,5 0,6 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 N=15000

5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50%

Statistical Margins due to the sampling process

(at the 95% level of confidence)

TS2


ABBR. COUNTRIES INSTITUTES N° INTERVIEWS

FIELDWORK DATES

POPULATION 15+

BE Belgium TNS Dimarso 1.031 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 8.866.411 BG Bulgaria TNS BBSS 1.020 03/11/2012 11/11/2012 6.584.957 CZ Czech Rep. TNS Aisa 1.003 03/11/2012 14/11/2012 8.987.535 DK Denmark TNS Gallup DK 1.001 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 4.533.420 DE Germany TNS Infratest 1.562 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 64.545.601 EE Estonia Emor 1.003 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 916.000 IE Ireland IMS Millward Brown 1.000 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 3.375.399 EL Greece TNS ICAP 1.001 03/11/2012 17/11/2012 8.693.566 ES Spain TNS Demoscopia 1.006 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 39.035.867 FR France TNS Sofres 1.008 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 47.620.942 IT Italy TNS Infratest 1.032 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 51.252.247 CY Rep. of Cyprus Synovate 503 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 651.400 LV Latvia TNS Latvia 1.011 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 1.448.719 LT Lithuania TNS LT 1.019 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 2.849.359 LU Luxembourg TNS ILReS 502 03/11/2012 17/11/2012 404.907 HU Hungary TNS Hoffmann Kft 1.028 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 8.320.614 MT Malta MISCO 500 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 335.476 NL Netherlands TNS NIPO 1.016 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 13.288.200

AT Austria Österreichisches Gallup-Institut 993 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 6.973.277

PL Poland TNS OBOP 1.000 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 32.306.436 PT Portugal TNS EUROTESTE 1.015 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 8.080.915 RO Romania TNS CSOP 1.014 03/11/2012 13/11/2012 18.246.731 SI Slovenia RM PLUS 1.014 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 1.748.308 SK Slovakia TNS Slovakia 1.000 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 4.549.954 FI Finland TNS Gallup Oy 1.007 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 4.412.321 SE Sweden TNS GALLUP 1.029 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 7.723.931 UK United Kingdom TNS UK 1.304 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 51.081.866

TOTAL EU27 26.622 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 406.834.359

CY(tcc) Turkish Cypriot Community Kadem 500 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 143.226

HR Croatia Puls 1.000 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 3.749.400 TR Turkey TNS PIAR 1.000 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 52.728.513

MK Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia TNS Brima 1.056 03/11/2012 09/11/2012 1.678.404

IS Iceland Capacent 502 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 252.277 ME Montenegro TNS Medium Gallup 1.017 03/11/2012 15/11/2012 492.265 RS Serbia TNS Medium Gallup 1.034 03/11/2012 15/11/2012 6.409.693

TOTAL 32.731 03/11/2012 18/11/2012 472.288.137

TS3

QUESTIONNAIRE


QA1

12345

QA2

123

QA3a

1

2

3

45

6

When you get together with friends or relatives, would you say you discuss frequently, occasionally or never about...?

EB77.3 QA4a

Not very satisfied

A. CORE QUESTIONNAIRE

Not at all satisfied DKEB77.3 QA1

(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

ASK ALL

On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the life you lead? (ONE ANSWER ONLY)Very satisfiedFairly satisfied

(READ OUT) Frequently Occasio-nally

Never DK

(ONLY IN EU27) National political matters 1 2 3 4European political matters 1 2 3 4(ONLY IN EU27) Local political matters 1 2 3 4

EB77.3 QA2

DO NOT ASK QA3a IN CY(tcc) – CY(tcc) GO TO QA3b

How would you judge the current situation in each of the following? (SHOW CARD WITH SCALE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Very good

Rather good

Rather bad

Very bad

DK

The situation of the (NATIONALITY) economy

1 2 3 4 5

The situation of the European economy

1 2 3 4 5

The situation of the economy in the world

1 2 3 4 5

Your personal job situation 1 2 3 4 5The financial situation of your household

1 2 3 4 5

The employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY)

1 2 3 4 5

Q1


QA3b

1

2

3

45

6

QA4a

12

34

567

QA4b

12

34

567

ASK QA4b ONLY IN CY(tcc) – OTHERS GO TO QA5a


How would you judge the current situation in each of the following? (SHOW CARD WITH SCALE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Very good

Rather good

Rather bad

Very bad

DK

The economic situation in the Turkish Cypriot Community

1 2 3 4 5

The situation of the European economy

1 2 3 4 5

The situation of the economy in the world

1 2 3 4 5

Your personal job situation 1 2 3 4 5The financial situation of your household

1 2 3 4 5

The employment situation in the Turkish Cypriot Community

1 2 3 4 5

EB77.3 QA4b


What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...? (ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Better Worse Same DKYour life in general 1 2 3 4The economic situation in (OUR COUNTRY)

1 2 3 4

The financial situation of your household 1 2 3 4The employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY)

1 2 3 4

Your personal job situation 1 2 3 4The economic situation in the EU 1 2 3 4The economic situation in the world 1 2 3 4

EB77.3 QA5a

What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...? (ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Better Worse Same DKYour life in general 1 2 3 4The economic situation in the Turkish Cypriot Community

1 2 3 4

The financial situation of your household 1 2 3 4The employment situation in the Turkish Cypriot Community

1 2 3 4

Your personal job situation 1 2 3 4The economic situation in the EU 1 2 3 4The economic situation in the world 1 2 3 4

EB77.3 QA5b

Q2


QA5a

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

10,11,12,13,14,1516

QA6a

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

10,11,12,13,14,1516

DO NOT ASK QA5a AND QA6a IN CY(tcc) – CY(tcc) GO TO QA5b

What do you think are the two most important issues facing (OUR COUNTRY) at the moment?(SHOW CARD – READ OUT – MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

Rising prices/ inflationTaxationUnemployment

DKEB77.3 QA7a

TerrorismHousingGovernment debt ImmigrationHealth and social security The education system

And personally, what are the two most important issues you are facing at the moment?(SHOW CARD – READ OUT – MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

CrimeEconomic situation

CrimeThe economic situation in (OUR COUNTRY)

PensionsThe environment, climate and energy issues Other (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)

Rising prices/ inflationTaxationUnemploymentTerrorismHousingThe financial situation of your household ImmigrationHealth and social security The education systemThe environment, climate and energy issues PensionsOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)DKEB77.3 QA8a

Q3


QA5b

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

10,11,12,13,14,1516

QA6b

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

10,11,12,13,14,15,1617

ASK QA5b AND QA6b ONLY IN CY(tcc) – OTHERS GO TO QA7

What do you think are the two most important issues facing our Community at the moment?(SHOW CARD – READ OUT – MAX. 2 ANSWERS)CrimeEconomic situationRising prices/ inflationTaxationUnemploymentTerrorismHousingCyprus issueImmigration

Rising prices/ inflationTaxationUnemployment

Health and social security The education systemPensionsThe environment, climate and energy issues Other (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)DKEB77.3 QA7b

And personally, what are the two most important issues you are facing at the moment?(SHOW CARD – READ OUT – MAX. 2 ANSWERS)CrimeThe economic situation in our Community

TerrorismCyprus issueHousingThe financial situation of your household ImmigrationHealth and social security The education systemThe environment, climate and energy issues PensionsOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)DKEB77.3 QA8b

Q4


QA7

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

10,11,12,13,14,1516

QA8a

1234

QA9a

123

QA8b

1234

QA9b

123

ASK QA7 ONLY IN EU27 - CY(tcc) GO TO QA8b - OTHERS GO TO QA8a

What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment?(SHOW CARD – READ OUT – MAX. 2 ANSWERS)CrimeEconomic situationRising prices/ inflationTaxationUnemploymentTerrorismEU's influence in the worldThe state of Member States public financesImmigrationPensionsThe environmentEnergy supplyClimate changeOther (SPONTANEOUS)None (SPONTANEOUS)DKEB77.3 QA9

DO NOT ASK QA8a AND QA9a IN EU27 AND IN CY(tcc) – CY(tcc) GO TO QA8b – EU27 GO TO

Generally speaking, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY)'s membership of the EU would be...? (READ OUT)A good thingA bad thingNeither good nor badDKEB77.3 QA10a

Taking everything into account, would you say that (OUR COUNTRY) would benefit or not from being a member of the EU?Would benefitWould not benefitDKEB77.3 QA11a

ASK QA8b AND QA9b ONLY IN CY(tcc) – OTHERS GO TO QA10a

Generally speaking, do you think that for the Turkish Cypriot Community the full application of EU legislation would be…?(READ OUT)A good thingA bad thingNeither good nor badDKEB77.3 QA10b

Taking everything into consideration, would you say that the Turkish Cypriot Community would benefit or not from the full application of the EU legislation?Would benefitWould not benefitDKEB77.3 QA11b

Q5


QA10a

12

QA10b

12

QA11

1234567

89

10


At the present time, would you say that, in general, things are going in the right direction or in the wrong direction, in…?(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Things are going in the right direction

Things are going in

the wrong direction

Neither the one nor

the other (SPONTA-NEOUS)

DK

1 2 3 4The European Union 1 2 3 4(OUR COUNTRY)

EB77.3 QA12a TREND MODIFIED

ASK QA10b ONLY IN CY(tcc) – OTHERS GO TO QA11

At the present time, would you say that, in general, things are going in the right direction or in the wrong direction, in…?(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Things are going in the right direction

Things are going in

the wrong direction

Neither the one nor

the other (SPONTA-NEOUS)

DK

Our Community 1 2 3 4The European Union 1 2 3 4

EB77.3 QA12b TREND MODIFIED

ASK ALL

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain institutions. For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Tend to trust

Tend not to trust

DK

The press 1 2 3Radio 1 2 3

3

Television 1 2 3The Internet 1 2 3

1 2 3

Political parties 1 2 3(NOT IN CY(tcc)) The (NATIONALITY) Government 1 2

3Regional or local public authorities 1 2 3

(NOT IN CY(tcc)) The (NATIONALITY PARLIAMENT) (USE PROPER NAME FOR LOWER HOUSE)

1 2 3

The European UnionThe United Nations 1 2

EB77.3 QA13 (items 5-10) + EB76.3 QA10 (items 1-4)

Q6


QA12

123456

QA13

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

10,11,12,13,14,15,16

QA14

12345

QA15

12345

Fairly negativeVery negativeDK

In general, does the EU conjure up for you a very positive, fairly positive, neutral, fairly negative or very negative image? (ONE ANSWER ONLY)Very positiveFairly positiveNeutral

EB77.3 QA14

What does the EU mean to you personally? (SHOW CARD – READ OUT – ROTATE TOP TO BOTTOM/ BOTTOM TO TOP – MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)

PeaceEconomic prosperityDemocracySocial protectionFreedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EUCultural diversityStronger say in the worldEuroUnemploymentBureaucracyWaste of moneyLoss of our cultural identityMore crimeNot enough control at external bordersOther (SPONTANEOUS)DKEB77.3 QA15

ASK QA14 ONLY IN EU27 - OTHERS GO TO QA15

Please tell me for each of the following words if it describes very well, fairly well, fairly badly or very badly the idea you might have of the EU.(SHOW CARD WITH SCALE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Describes very well

Describes fairly well

Describes fairly badly

Describes very badly

DK

Modern 1 2 3 4 5Democratic 1 2 3 4 5Protective 1 2 3 4 5Efficient (N) 1 2 3 4 5Technocratic 1 2 3 4 5

EB74.2 QA15 TREND MODIFIED

ASK ALL

Have you heard of…?(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Yes No DKThe European Parliament 1 2 3The European Commission 1 2 3The Council of the European Union 1 2 3The European Central Bank 1 2 3(ONLY EU27) The Court of Justice of the European Union

1 2 3

EB77.3 QA16

Q7


QA16

12345

QA17

12

3

QA18

1

2

3

4

5

QA19a

QA19b

For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Tend to trust

Tend not to trust

DK

The European Parliament 1 2 3The European Commission 1 2 3The Council of the European Union 1 2 3The European Central Bank 1 2 3(ONLY IN EU27) The Court of Justice of the European Union

1 2 3

3

EB77.3 QA17

For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT – ROTATE) True False DK

(ONE ANSWER PER LINE)(READ OUT – ROTATE) For

The EU currently consists of 27 Member States 1 2 3The members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State

1 2

Switzerland is a member of the EU 1 2 3EB77.3 QA18

What is your opinion on each of the following statements? Please tell me for each statement, whether you are for it or against it.

Against DKA European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro

1 2 3

(ONLY IN EU27) A common foreign policy of the 27 Member States of the EU

1 2 3

Further enlargement of the EU to include other countries in future years

1 2 3

(ONLY IN EU27) A common defence and security policy among EU Member States

1 2 3

(ONLY IN EU27) European political parties to present their candidate for the post of European Commission President at the next European Parliament elections (N)

1 2 3

EB77.3 QA19 TREND MODIFIED

ASK QA19a AND QA19b ONLY IN EU27 – CY(tcc) GO TO QA20b – OTHERS GO TO QA20a

On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in (OUR COUNTRY)? And how about the way democracy works in the EU? (SHOW CARD WITH SCALE – ONE ANSWER PER COLUMN)

QA19a QA19b(READ OUT)In (OUR

COUNTRY)In the EU

Very satisfied 1 1Fairly satisfied 2 2

3 3Not at all satisfied 4 4DK 5 5

Not very satisfied

EB77.3 QA20a&b

Q8


QA20a

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

9

10

11

12


Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. (SHOW CARD WITH SCALE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

DK

I understand how the EU works

1 2 3 4 5

(ONLY IN EU27) The interests of (OUR COUNTRY) are well taken into account in the EU

1 2 3 4 5

(ONLY IN EU27) I feel I am safer because (OUR COUNTRY) is a member of the EU

1 2 3 4 5

My voice counts in the EU 1 2 3 4 5My voice counts in (OUR COUNTRY)

1 2 3 4 5

The EU’s voice counts in the world

1 2 3 4 5

Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth

1 2 3 4 5

(OUR COUNTRY) alone can cope with the negative effects of globalisation (N)

1 2 3 4 5

(ONLY IN EU27) (ONLY TO SPLIT A) The EU helps to protect European citizens from the negative effects of globalisation

1 2 3 4 5

(ONLY IN EU27) (ONLY TO SPLIT B) The EU enables European citizens to better benefit from the positive effects of globalisation

1 2 3 4 5

(ONLY IN EU 27) (OUR COUNTRY) could better face the future outside the EU (N)

1 2 3 4 5

(ONLY IN EU 27) The EU should develop further into a federation of Nation-States (N)

1 2 3 4 5

EB77.3 QA21a TREND MODIFIED

Q9


QA20b

1

23

4

5

6

QA21

QA22

QA23

12345

QA21 QA22

123

123

10

45678

9

45678

9DK

(READ OUT - ROTATE)(SHOW CARD – ONE ANSWER PER COLUMN)

To develop the EU’s economy and boost growthTo make the EU a major diplomatic actor on the international stageTo improve the standard of living of all EU citizensTo combat global threats (terrorism, climate change)

CURRENT SHOULD BE

10EB77.3 QA25a&b

To promote the development of the poorest countries outside the EU To promote democracy and human rights in the worldMaintain peace and stabilityTo protect European citizens against the negative effects of globalisation (relocation of industries and jobs, competition from emerging countries for European businesses)Other (SPONTANEOUS)


Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. (SHOW CARD WITH SCALE – ONE ANSWER PER LINE)

(READ OUT) Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

DK

I understand how the EU works

1 2 3 4 5

My voice counts in the EU 1 2 3 4 5My voice counts in our Community

1 2 3 4 5

The EU’s voice counts in the world

1 2 3 4 5

Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth

1 2 3 4 5

Our Community alone can cope with the negative effects of globalisation (N)

1 2 3 4 5

EB77.3 QA21b TREND MODIFIED

ASK QA21 TO QA23 ONLY IN EU27 - OTHERS GO TO QC1

In your opinion, at the current time, what is the main objective of the building of Europe? And what should be the main objective of the building of Europe?

Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU?(ONE ANSWER ONLY) Very optimisticFairly optimisticFairly pessimisticVery pessimisticDKEB77.3 QA26

Q10

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - ec.europa.eu · Opinions on a federation of nation states...

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Transcript of PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - ec.europa.eu · Opinions on a federation of nation states...